Valletta 6

MARSA 1

Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Grioli (M. Barbara), B. Nisevic, S. Bezzina, R. Forace (K. Magro), D. Camilleri, J. Bondin, D. Falzon (M. Grima), R. Siberie, D. Zarb, G. Agius

Marsa: R. Spiteri, G. Bencini, K. Cassar, E. Yanchev, S. Cutajar (N. Fasinelli), K. Scerri, C. Achokwu (R. Micallef), D. Cucciardi (D. Vella), V. Bellia, A. Scerri, I. Umoru

Referee : K. Azzopardi Asst.refs : A. Camilleri, G. Barbara 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: V. Bellia, R. Siberie (4) 1 pen, J. Grioli, D. Falzon

Yellow cards: K. Cassar, D. Falzon

Player of the match: Richmar Siberie (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. D. Camilleri 2. R. Siberie 3. J. Bondin

Richmar ‘Rocky’ Siberie, Valletta’s latest January signing from Netherland Antilles, could not make a better start in the Premier League, scoring four goals in his side’s demolition of bottom side Marsa.

Although exhibiting a different playing style, he looked as lethal as Monesterolo in front of goal and judging on yesterday’s showing, he is fast becoming the new Valletta favourite.

Siberie couldn’t have achieved that without the movement and skill of those around him. David Camilleri had a field day, as his side’s chief architect. He ran and fought endlessly while Bondin also bossed in midfield. Agius provided sterling service

Although hardly having a bearing on the final score, Valletta’s first goal after a quarter hour was hard justice for Marsa, courtesy of an inexistent penalty, only awarded after assistant referee Alan Camilleri vehemently flagged the infringement, only sighted by himself, to overrule referee Azzopardi’s decision after he had waved play on for Agius free fall inside the Marsa area when faced by defender Cassar. The Valletta player, in fact, had already stood up and continued play. After harsh protests from the Marsa players, Siberie tucked away the penalty to make his mark in Maltese football.

In truth, Marsa had never looked like halting their series of negative results and finished with the appearance of a side resigned to their fate, but that episode might have been the cause of their downfall.

Marsa had taken a surprise lead after ten minutes play. Umoru, one of two foreign newcomers for Marsa, together with Achokwa, played the ball square to the advancing Victor Bellia who beat keeper Darmanin with a low angled shot.

After conceding Valletta’s controversial equaliser, Marsa lost much of their composure at the back and Valletta exploited their delicate moment.

On 25 minutes Falzon’s inviting low cross from the left, where Kevin Scerri was at a loss against his opponent, was fractionally missed by Siberie. The new Valletta striker atoned five minutes later when left unattended inside the Marsa small box, easily flicking in Agius’ centre from the right flank.

On 33 minutes Bondin found space on the right, played the ball forward to Agius who was denied by Cassar’s timely tackle. After Grioli had headed Agius’ free-kick over the bar, Marsa suffered from another wrong decision, by assistant Barbara who flagged Cucciardi’s run from half pitch when the player looked in an onside position. Marsa’s chance went begging.

Marsa collapsed to concede a third goal on the stroke of halftime as Justin Grioli’s cross shot from the right surprised keeper Spiteri who failed to hold out the ball, only to palm it out after it had already crossed the goal line.

Valletta continued to bask in their superiority after the restart and turned their dominance into more goals as Marsa’s defence was ripped apart at will.

On 52 minutes Dyson Falzon scored a good goal, beating the Marsa keeper with an exquisite left foot shot at the top corner when standing on the edge of the area.

On the hour ‘Rocky’ Siberie shielded a long ball, exchanged with his captain Agius and fired a left foot shot past the helpless Spiteri.

And by the time Siberie scored Valletta’s sixth and his fourth six minutes later, toepoking another Agius assist, the game had been already over as a contest, highlighting the gulf between the two teams.